Blogathon Relay: TEN Most Iconic Female Movie Characters

Yet another blog relay! Well most of you should get the idea by now, it’s a relay race of a list of who bloggers think are ten most iconic… this time it’s focused on Female Movie Characters. Thanks to Dell from Dell on Movies for shining the spotlight on the fairer sex, and certainly he picked some great characters on the initial top 10 list!

What are the rules?

A list of 10 iconic female movie characters has been made. That list will be assigned to another blogger who can then change it by removing one character (describing why they think she should not be on the list) and replacing it with another one (also with motivation) and hand over the baton to another blogger. Once assigned, that blogger will have to put his/her post up within a week. If this is not the case the blogger who assigned it has to reassign it to another blogger. After you have posted your update leave the link in the comments below and I will make sure it gets added to the overview post.

Thanks to Jaina at Time Well Spent for passing the baton to me! These nine remain on the list as it stands right now, scroll down below which director I have to let go and his replacement:

I have to confess that there are a couple of characters here from films I haven’t seen before (Foxy Brown and Lisbeth Salander). As Jaina said, the fact that I know who they are just shows how iconic those characters are. However, there’s one I absolutely have no idea who it is without googling about her, and I feel that she’s perhaps not iconic enough to be in the top 10. So…

Who’s Out?

Nurse Ratched

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is one of the many Oscar-winning films I haven’t seen yet, so I literally had to google who Nurse Ratched is. Now, as I’ve mentioned before, there are other characters on the list I’ve never seen before on screen, but yet I knew who they are and which movies they’re in. So I feel that even if Louise Fletcher’s performance as that character was indeed excellent and Oscar-worthy, she might not be iconic enough to be in the Top 10.…

Who’s In?

Mrs. Robinson

When we’re talking about an iconic role, I think of someone who’s become a pop-culture phenomenon. The ultimate cougar, aka older women who like to seduced younger men, I’d think even people who haven’t seen The Graduate would know who Mrs. Robinson is or what she represents. She’s one of those rare female antiheroes, complex and incredibly flawed, but definitely indelible. I actually became familiar with the character before I saw the 1967 film, it was from the popular song dedicated to her by Simon & Garfunkel.

And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson, Jesus loves you more than you will know. God bless you, please Mrs. Robinson Heaven holds a place for those who pray, Hey, hey, hey

Anne Bancroft‘s Oscar-nominated performance is a big part of what makes her character so iconic. Then there’s that famous shot that’s used in the poster of her nylon-covered leg, that becomes synonymous with illicit seduction. There’s even a stage version of The Graduate, with Linda Gray (whose leg is actually used in the famous poster), Kathleen Turner, Jerry Hall playing the titular role, among others. So I think Mrs. Robinson deserves a spot on this list.

…

I’m passing the torch to Eric, who runs the awesome blog The Warning Sign which has a nice mix of classic and contemporary films.

Hi Niall, glad you like my pick. Er, um, I actually don’t know who Beatrix Kiddo is, I presume she’s another classic character? I do think Scarlett O’Hara is one of the most iconic female movie characters, so I certainly won’t remove her from the list.

Oooh I forgot that’s her name! I only remember her as The Bride, but yes she is iconic indeed. I’ve only seen the first Kill Bill tho, but I could see her being included as this relay goes around. Ahah well Scarlett is ruthless and selfish so yeah, not exactly likable but this list isn’t about who’s the most likable character 🙂

Hi Wendell! Sorry man but I really had no idea who Nurse Ratched was. For some reason I didn’t realize Mrs Robinson was in the original list, I do think she shouldn’t have been removed. Thanks for this fun blogathon!

Love this blogathon. While I agree with most everything, I think Lizbeth Salander could go and insert Jodi Foster for ‘Silence of the Lambs’ or maybe Diane Keaton in ‘Annie Hall’ or Emma Watson in ‘Harry Potter’.

I’m with Cindy. Lizbeth would go for me. She just doesn’t fit the bill of iconic at all IMO. But I definitely understand where you’re coming from. You kind of feel wrong removing someone you haven’t seen.

The Mrs. Robinson one is a very interesting choice. She’s definitely not a likable lady but I think a good case could be made for her being iconic. This is a cool blogathon. So many great characters come to mind.

Hi ya Keith! WOW we must be kindred spirits man. I just saw your avatar in a blog I visited and was just about to swing by!

Well I actually haven’t seen Nurse Ratched either but I recognized Lizbeth right away even from before the film version as the books were quite popular. I’m not into that franchise tho, way too brutal for my taste.

No, Mrs Robinson is not a likable person, I mean she is deeply flawed obviously. But that character’s become a pop-culture icon, not just a cinematic one.

Yeah I agree that Nurse Ratched doesn’t belong in the list, she’s a great villain but I don’t think many people knows much about her. If you’ve never seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest then you’ll have no idea who she is. I saw The Graduate when I was very young so I don’t remember much about it but I guess Mrs. Robinson deserves to be on the list since there was a song based on her and I still remember it.

As I removed Mrs. Robinson previously you know that I do not agree with adding her back in. She never stood out to me as an iconic character and I wouldn’t actually be able to tell much about her. Can’t always agree 😉

Ahah sorry I put her back in but since I totally forgot you have removed her then I totally stand by my decision that I think she is indeed iconic. I mean there’s a very popular song written about her & the term Mrs Robinson is a pop-culture reference to a cougar even today, if that doesn’t make her iconic then I really don’t know what would.

Well I also didn’t grow up in the US and didn’t live here when the film came out, but I knew more about her than most of the characters here. I actually was thinking of including Maria Von Trapp from Sound of Music before I settled with Mrs Robinson, now that I think about it maybe she could be more iconic internationally.

Argh! these elimination posts. so many worthy. I will stick my nose in and put in a punt for Charly Baltimore (Geena Davis) from The Long Kiss Goodnight. May not be iconic to or for all, but that was one bad chica!

Yay, that’s exactly what I mean that even without seeing The Graduate ppl would likely know who Mrs Robinson is. As w/ Nurse Ratched, even tho I’ve seen photos of her before I don’t immediately recognize which movie she’s from or even the name of that actress.

I can’t disagree with your choice. Well played haha
I’m surprised at how the list is very light on some of the good oldies, like Regan in the Exorcist, I mean, it doesn’t get much bigger in terms of cultural impact than that movie and that performance. There are many others I would choose, but 10 characters may be a little too short to leave everyone happy.

About me

Hello I'm Ruth! Film is in my blood. LOVE movies of all genres, from Jane Austen to James Bond. Official blogger for the Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF). I've recently completed my first feature screenplay & produced my first short film HEARTS WANT. Visit facebook.com/heartswantfilm

Trivia on Blade Runner 2049

Denis Villeneuve noted that he's fully aware of the immense pressure he's under, and how hardcore fans of the original view the prospect of a new film: "I know that every single fan will walk into the theater with a baseball bat. I'm aware of that and I respect that, and it's okay with me because it's art. Art is risk, and I have to take risks. It's gonna be the biggest risk of my life but I'm okay with that. For me it's very exciting... It's just so inspiring, I'm so inspired. I've been dreaming to do sci-fi since I was 10 years old, and I said 'no' to a lot of sequels. I couldn't say 'no' to Blade Runner 2049 (2017). I love it too much, so I said, 'Alright, I will do it and give everything I have to make it great.'"

Initially, Denis Villeneuve was against the concept of a sequel to Blade Runner (1982), as he felt it could violate the original. But after reading the script, which he and Harrison Ford have described as "one of the best" they have ever read, he committed to the project, stating that Ford was already involved at that point: "To be very honest with you, Harrison was part of the project before I arrived. He was attached to it right from the start with Ridley [Scott]. I met him and he's honestly one of the nicest human beings I've met and is one of my favorite actors of all time, so for me it's a lot of pleasure."

Jared Leto was introduced to Denis Villeneuve by his close friend Jean-Marc Vallée, who had directed Leto in Dallas Buyers Club (2013).

Emily Blunt was considered for a role but she declined due to her pregnancy.

This sequel is set to be released on October 6, 2017, just ten years and one day after the Final Cut version of the first film premiered in Los Angeles.

The sequel which takes place 30 years after Blade Runner (1982) is the story of new Blade Runner Officer K (Ryan Gosling) as he searches Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) whom has disappeared. In Harrison Ford's earlier science fiction film Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) which took place 30 years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), The film's main protagonists Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) are searching for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) whom disappeared. Harrison Ford played Han Solo in the Star Wars films.